[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img] Dateline Jerusalem — This week, immediately after 24 hours of sadness during Remembrance Day, Israel experienced 24 hours of joy in the celebration of Israeli Independence Day. Similar to last week's observance of Yom HaShoah, the entire country came to a standstill again when sirens screamed Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and pedestrians stood at attention while vehicles and trains came to an abrupt halt to honor 23,000 civilian victims of terror and soldiers who lost their lives defending the State of Israel. Unfortunately, another 126 victims were added to the list since last year.
Drivers exited their cars and train passengers disembarked onto train platforms on Remembrance Day to stand at attention in silence, throughout the country Israelis attended memorial services, the Israeli government laid flags with black ribbons on all 23,000 graves, and government officials and bereaved families attended a ceremony at the Kotel (also known as the Western Wall and the Wailing Wall).
In Israel, both boys and girls are drafted into the army after high school. They are given the utmost respect. Unfortunately, many Americans no longer seem to honor U.S. military personnel who risk their lives to keep Americans free.
Immediately following the somber mood of Remembrance Day, the state of Israel celebrated its 64th birthday with Israelis dancing in the streets under colorful banners and streamers criss-crossing intersections, magnificent fireworks exploding against clear black skies, the delicious aroma of barbecues permeating the air, city parks playing music and having hours of entertainment for its residents, Israeli flags covering the entire height and width of government buildings, high-rise apartment buildings hanging narrow but long flags from their roofs to the sidewalk, individual Israelis hanging flags from windows in their homes and apartments with various sized flags attached to cars flying in the breeze.
The founding of the state of Israel 64 years ago has been considered by some to be nothing short of a “Divine miracle, a revelation of G-d's hand in all its glory,” a “realization of the Biblical prophecies.” Perhaps that is why the return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland angers so many Islamics. They believe in the concept of a messiah more so than most Jews and gentiles of today. They believe Islam is the perfect religion that will overtake all religions, formed from the failures of Judaism and Christianity, that they are G-d's chosen people. This is one of the reasons they are threatened by the Jews returning to Israel, and Jerusalem in particular. By G-d returning the Jews here after the Holocaust, the legitimacy of Islam is in question.
Happy birthday, Israel.
L'hitraot. Shachar.
